Medical pot stores banned

Seal Beach has voted to ban medical marijuana stores, although state law permits the sale of pot to people with a doctor’s prescription.

The City Council passed the ban Monday night. Eight other cities in Orange County also have moratoriums or bans on pot stores.

Another city, Laguna Woods, recently passed a law permitting the dispensaries.

Using marijuana for medical purposes has been declared legal in California since voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996.

But the law was sketchy on how the drug would be distributed, and some cities and counties have banned or limited medical pot sales within their boundaries.

Federal law also makes marijuana use and sales illegal -- even for medical reasons.